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GARDEN TOURS
Perennial Gardens and Nature
Trails
Individual Self-Guided Garden Tours are FREE
Come explore the beauty and tranquility
of our country sanctuary. Eight park-like acres situated on the
high banks of the Nith River. Visit the extensive perennial gardens
featuring thousands of perennials in diverse settings. Stroll the
wooded nature trails or enjoy the harmony of the many water gardens.
We welcome tour buses and groups, large or small. Motor coach
parking is available. Please call ahead if you are coming with a
large group. If your group would like a personalized guided tour or
gardening demonstration please inquire at
chris@canningperennials.com. or call
519-458-4271, or fax 519-458-8567. Please note there is a
small charge for motor coach bus tours. Please inquire for details.
Public washrooms are available. We also sell cold pop during the
hot summer months.
Sorry, no picnics or pets. All children must be accompanied and
supervised by an adult.
To see lots of garden images please click on
Slide Shows.
When is the Best Time to
Visit the Garden?
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Anytime! There is always something
interesting in bloom, and it changes from week to week --
changing and evolving like a never-ending story. This is the
joy and the essence of gardening with perennials. Visit the
gardens throughout the season to get ideas for your own garden.
Following is my best estimate of flowering times
throughout the season. Please keep in mind that cool weather
will slow down the flowering process and hot dry weather will
speed things up. |
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Early May
to June 1
This is the time to see spring wildflowers. Follow the
trail through the woods to see Trilliums, Buttercups, wild
Geraniums, little Anemones, Bloodroot, Jack-in-the-Pulpit,
and many other traditional woodland plants. There are also
lots of birds in the woods and on the property. The trail
is nice even when nothing is in bloom -- quiet, peaceful and
cool.
In the main gardens, spring flowers such as rock cress
and primula are in full bloom. The Narcissus are also
putting on quite a show.
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Early June
The garden tends to be soft pastels at this time of year,
punctuated by brilliant poppies. It has, however, been hard
to predict colour schemes in recent years, as many things
are blooming out of sequence, being affected by climatic
changes in different ways. No matter, the display is always
lovely, and always interesting. Generally, this is a good
time to view Iris, Lupins, Peony, Clematis, and Pinks. A
few early varieties of daylilies are also starting to show
their colours.
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Later June
into July
The garden is now in FULL bloom and interesting colour
combinations abound. This is the time to come out and
see a spectacular display of perennials and grasses.
I love daylilies and have hundreds in my gardens -- mass
planted and also individually and in groups with suitable
companions.
Flowering plants are generally getting much taller. In
the spring things tend to be low to the ground but by this
time of year there are some very interesting tall plants in
bloom.
Ornamental grasses like Feather Reed Grass and Carex are
also putting on a great show.
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End of July - Beginning
of August
Through careful plant selection, this time of year can be
as colourful as June. Some of my favourite plants bloom
later in the season, such as the Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea), and many architectural giants like
Rudbeckia nitida 'Herbstonne'. The ornamental grasses are
also starting to make a good show.
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We do not use any pesticides or harmful
chemicals on the plants or on the land -- and we never have.
This means that some very interesting creatures have made our
property their home, including butterflies, birds and frogs.
See our
Slide
Show called Garden Safari for a glimpse at some of the
creatures in my garden. |
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